Justin Baldoni, the director and star of It Ends With Us, has been dropped by his agency, WME, following sexual harassment and retaliation allegations filed by actress Blake Lively. The decision to sever ties with Baldoni was made on Saturday, less than 24 hours after Lively submitted her complaint, according to sources.
WME, which also represents Lively, declined to comment on the matter. However, insiders indicate that the agency acted swiftly due to the gravity of the allegations outlined in the complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department.
Allegations Detailed in Lively’s Complaint
In the complaint, Lively accuses Baldoni of causing “severe emotional harm” to her and her family. She alleges incidents of sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior, and a retaliatory smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni after her objections to certain production decisions on It Ends With Us. Among the accusations:
- Body Shaming and Inappropriate Comments: Lively claims Baldoni criticized her weight in discussions with her trainer and made inappropriate comments about his sex life during a January 2024 meeting.
- Pressuring Disclosure of Personal Beliefs: Lively alleges Baldoni pressured her to discuss her religious beliefs during the same meeting, which was attended by her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
- Unethical Behavior on Set: Lively asserts that Jamey Heath, producer of the film and CEO of Wayfarer Studios, showed her a personal video of his wife giving birth. Both Heath and Baldoni allegedly discussed their struggles with pornography addiction in her presence.
- Invasive Actions: Baldoni is accused of entering Lively’s makeup trailer unannounced while she was breastfeeding her newborn baby.
- Campaign of Retaliation: The complaint claims Baldoni launched a “social manipulation” campaign to damage Lively’s reputation after she demanded no additional sex scenes be added to the film’s script, which had already been approved by Sony Pictures.
The complaint includes emails and text messages purportedly showing plans by Baldoni’s publicity team to discredit Lively if her complaints became public.
Responses from Both Sides
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “shameful” and “categorically false.” In a statement to Variety, Freedman accused Lively and her representatives of fabricating claims in an effort to “repair her own negative reputation” stemming from actions during the film’s promotional campaign. He added that Wayfarer Studios had preemptively hired a crisis management professional due to what he described as Lively’s “multiple demands and threats” during production.
Lively’s legal team, in a statement provided to The New York Times, emphasized the broader implications of the complaint. “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said.
Industry Reaction
The allegations have sparked widespread discussion within the entertainment industry about workplace misconduct and accountability. While WME’s decision to drop Baldoni underscores the seriousness of the claims, the fallout for both parties is likely to unfold in the public eye as the case progresses.
Representatives for Sony Pictures and Wayfarer Studios have not yet commented on the allegations. Meanwhile, the legal battle and its potential impact on the careers of both Baldoni and Lively remain uncertain.
